Devin Carter can make the hard catches. N.C. State needs him to make the easy ones
For all the spectacular catches he’s made over his career, Devin Carter knows two drops against Miami in 2021 still hang over his head. Just after that 31-30 loss, the N.C. State wide receiver took to Twitter and apologized.
Ahead of the new season, it’s a moment that still sticks with Carter.
“I needed to apologize for, I guess, being distracted and not being all in,” Carter told the News & Observer. “I just feel like recognizing your faults can gain respect. I recognize it, that’s the first thing you’re supposed to do and not run from it. You can’t ignore it but you can dim the light on it.”
Carter, a junior, is known for making improbable grabs look routine — like his 40-yard touchdown catch against Boston College last season, when he caught the ball behind the defender’s back.
But for every hard catch he makes look easy, Carter wants to make the easy catches more often.
“I feel like last year was probably my most inconsistent season,” Carter said. “I wouldn’t say anything in particular, it just happened the way it happened.”
Last season the Clayton High School product caught 31 passes for 556 yards and six touchdowns. The yards and TDs were career highs, and for the second straight season, he led the team in yards per catch (17.9).
The team needs to replace Emeka Emezie, the school’s all-time receptions leader. Emezie could occasionally be a downfield threat, but his biggest strength was moving the chains, a prototype possession receiver. Quarterback Devin Leary could depend on Emezie to make the routine catches.
Ahead of the 2022 season — which could potentially be his last — Carter wants to show he can be that player. He has the size (6-3, 215) and game experience (40 career games).
“He’s an emotional player, which we like, but he needs to control that and not let them control him,” N.C. State coach Dave Doeren said. “I think that’s something that comes with maturity.”
Carter tries not to pay attention to outside noise, but it can be hard to avoid. This offseason, he focused more attention on his mental health, trying to notice the things people let affect them.
“Things you can’t control,” Carter said. “Like people’s opinion on you.”
So what does Carter think people’s opinions of him are?
“I just think they kind of downplay me a little bit,” Carter said. “I’m ready to show what I can do, show what we can do.”
This story was originally published August 5, 2022 at 9:20 AM.
